The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that a 62-year-old French national, Chan Thao Phoumy, who had been sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking, has been executed.
According to French authorities, the man was put to death despite repeated efforts by France to halt the execution on various grounds. He had been convicted in 2010 for involvement in drug trafficking.
The French government had argued that the death penalty was not appropriate in his case and called for clemency, citing humanitarian considerations. However, these appeals were ultimately rejected by authorities in China.
France also raised concerns about the legal process, stating that the man’s lawyers were not granted access to defend him during his final trial, which took place in the city of Guangzhou in southern China.
Under Article 347 of China’s criminal law, drug-related offenses such as trafficking, distribution, and production are considered extremely serious crimes. Depending on the severity, penalties can range from lighter sentences to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The case has once again highlighted differences between countries on the use of capital punishment, particularly in cases involving drug-related crimes.
